Ruling and Opposition in Confrontation over Controversy on Assemblyman Lee Chul-Woo

Controversy has stirred up as assemblyman Chung Hyung-geun of the Grand National Party (GNP) publicly announced on December 10, “There are more Uri Party members other than Mr. Lee Chul-woo involved in the incident with the ‘Central Regional Party of North Korea’s Workers’ Party.’”

Mr. Chung made an appearance on a radio program on Peace Broadcasting Station (PBS) and said, “It is difficult to state that there are other cases like that of Mr. Lee’s, but I am familiar with the fact that there are other ruling party members involved in the Workers’ Party incident.”

In regards to this, spokesperson Kim Hyun-mi of the Uri Party said, “Mr. Chung said that ‘a secret agent by the name of Lee Sun-shil supplied money here and there’ during the investigation at the time,” and fought back saying, “That money went to the People’s Party at the time, and many people from that former group are now lawmakers of the Grand National Party.”

Spokesperson Kim also added, “Let’s get to the bottom of this incident through the investigation committee on past incidents.”

Also, the GNP made a request for investigation into the attack on the staff of assemblyman Chu Seong-young, who accused assemblyman Lee, brought on by 19 residents of Pochun, Gyeonggi, Mr. Lee’s electorate region.

Mr. Lee’s office refuted, “Although some people kicked the office door, it was Mr. Chu’s staff that exercised violence.”

On the same day, the Uri Party filed for expulsion of assemblyman Chu along with assemblymen Kim Ki-hyun and Park Seung-hwan to the Special Committee on Ethics of the National Assembly.

On the other hand, the GNP is planning to submit a resolution to urge for the resignation of assemblymen Choi Jae-chun of the Uri Party and Roh Hwe-chan of the Democratic Labor Party- who attempted an irregular presentation of bills on items, including the annulment of the National Security Law.

Young-Chan Yoon Myoung-Gun Lee yyc11@donga.com gun43@donga.com